Calendar mechanism



April 11, 1933. M. N RlCHTER ET AL 1,903,430

CALENDAR MECHANISM Filed March 2s, 1952 3 sheets-sheet i prl 11, 1933. M N RICHTER Er AL 1,903,430

CALENDAR MECHANISM April 1l, 1933- .M. N. RICHTER ET AL 1,903,430

CALENDAR MECHANISM Filed March 2s, i952 5 sheets-sheet 5 umm@ /A/z/E/V 705/15..

Patented Apr. 11, 1933 UNITED 'STATES PATENT OFFICE numeri u. 3.10am um rmx Lowrrz, or NEW Yonx. N. Y.

CALENDAR MEGHLNIBK This invention relates to improvements in calendar mechanisms, and more particularly to that class of such mechanisms in which the month, theday and the date of the month are automatically indicated day after day and year after year by the actuation of a suitable operating member, and without requiring any attention or adjustment for taking care of months having a different number of days, and which also automatically takes care of the extra day in February in each lea year.

ome objects of the present invention are to provide an improved, simplified, and dur able mechanism of this sort which can be operated continuously for a long period oftime without getting out of order; in which the number of parts in the mechanism are reduced to a minimum; and in which the month, day and date can all be displayed in the same line so that the' calendar can be easily and quickly read; also to construct a lcalendar mechanism having three rotatable elements month, the'day and date thereof, and which elements are all mounted to turn aboutl a single axis or shaft; and also to construct a mechanism having an operating member which is mounted to swing about the same axis or shaft as that upon which said-elements are mounted.

Other objects are to construct a mechanism of this sort having novel means for actuating said elements and for properly controlling the movements thereof, so that they will display their appropriate designations clearly under all conditions in accordance with variations in the number of days in the month; also to provide novel means for registering the 29th day of February every fourth year; and also-to improve and simplify calendar mechanisms in the various other respects hereinafter set forth and claimed.

The mechanism of the present invention, as stated, is provided with a single 'operating member, and this member is adapted to actuate the mechanism once each day by a single to and fro movement, and this movement of 50 the operating member can be effected in any manner desired. For example, the mechacarrying the several designations for the nism can arranged by itself in a casing and the operatmg member actuated by hand, or said member may be actuated by any'suitable mechanically or electrically operated clock, or clock mechanism, associated with the calendar mechanism. When associated with a clock or clock mechanism, forA example vthe calendar mechanism can be arranged within the clock casing, which may be provided with suitable apertures through which the month, 6 i

the day and the date thereof can be observed.

In order to simpli the drawings, the cal'-l endar mechanism is s own as a separate unit as it appears before assembling 1t in a ,cas-

ing or other enclosure. 55

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a front elevation of our improved calendar mechanism, showinga .preferred embodiment thereof; a

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation thereof, on a 7 larger scale;

Fig. 3 is a plan view thereof; Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section thereof, taken approximately on the line 4 4, Fig.

1, showing in full and broken lines respectivel5 ly thenormal down and'up positions of the v operating ember for a one day movement of the calendar mechanism; i l l Fig. 5 is al fragmentary, similar view showmg part of the means foradvancing the so. month element; Y

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary transverse section, taken approximately on the `line 6'-6, Fig.' 3, showing the means for preventing the day element from being advanced more than one day at a time; l v

Fig. 7 isa transverse vertical section, on an enlarged scale, on line 7-.7, Fi'g. 1, showv .l ing a portion of the mechanism for control#- ling the movements of the month element, mi with the parts thereofin normal position;

Fig. 8 is a similar view, on line 8 8, Fig. 1, showing the means for actuating the day element; l,

Fig. 9 is a similar view, showingthe same parts fromV the op osite side thereof, and taken online 99, ig. 1;

Fig. 10 is a.` transverse vertical section of the mechanism on line 10-.10, Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale, showing the means-for effect m0 A ing proper actuation of the mechanism during months having thirty-one days, and also during those months having less than thirtyone days, and showing also the leap year 5 mechanism;

Fig. 11 is a similar view, illustrating another position of the parts shown in 1g. 10;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary vertical sectlon, on a still larger scale, of part of the means for 1 controlling the movement of the month element Fig. 13 is a fragmentary longitudinal section, showing the method of mountmg the several rotatable elements upon the single supporting shaft of the mechanism;

- ig. 14 is a transverse section of the mechanism, similar to Figs. 10 and 11, showing the parts thereof in position for retarding the advance of the month element for an eXtra day during leap year.; p

ig. 15 is a fragmentary vertical section thereof, on a still larger scale, showing the operating means in position to elfect movement of the month element and the date elel ment to the'rstof March directly after the 28th of February;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary section, on an enlar ed scale, on line 16-16, Fig. 14;

ig. 17 is a similar view thereof, but with the arts in the position shown in Fig. 15;

Flg. 18 is a fragmentary plan view, taken approximately on line 18T-18, Fig. 14.

ig. -19 is a view similar to Fig. 15, but showlng the means for intercepting theV operating member'directly after the 29th day of February in leap year in order to cause the operating member to subsequently vmake a stroke which will cause the next day to be re istered as March 1.

igs. 20 and 21 are detailed sectional views of parts of the leap yearpmechanism showing respectively the positions thereof just prlor to registering March 1st after a 28 day February and after a leap year February.

The embodiment of the mechanism illustrated in the drawings includes three elements, A, B and C, for respectively indicating the name of the month, the day of the week, andl the date of the month, numerically speaking. For brevity and clearness,` these three elements will hereinafter be referred to as the month element, the day element, and the date element, respectively. These elements A, B, and C are preferably in the form of drums with thesaid designations arranged upon the peripheries thereof. For example, the element A comprises an annular member or ring 10 bearing upon its periphery the names of the twelve months, consecutively 00 arranged, as shown in Fig.'1. The member 10 is mounted 0n a pair of lateral arms 11 extending from an axially disposed sleeve or supporting member 12. The element B similarly comprises an annular member 15 bear- !55 ing upon lts periphery the names of the days of the week, in the present instance, the n ames of the seven days being repeated four tlmes.

The member 15 is supported upon lateral supports 25 forming a part of the stationary frame of the mechanism. The uprights 25 may be connected by a bottom cross member 26.

The frame also comprises a stationary horizontal front plate 27 provided with Vthree apertures 28, 29 vand3() disposed in alignment, and through which respectively' one designation or character upon each of the elements A, B -and C'is visible at the same time.

When the calendar mechanism is arranged in connection with va clock, for example, the clock case may be provided with similar apertures arranged to register with the apertures 28-30 so as to expose the designations on said elements, while the rest of the calendar -mechanism is preferably concealed from view within said casing.

For causing the proper actuation of the elements A, B and C, an operating member D is provided, suitable mechanism being interposed between said member and the several elements whereby each will be properly actuated. The operatin member includes a horizontal bar 32 exten ing parallel with the shaft 24 at one side of the mechanism, and having at its ends inwardly extending arms 34 which are apertured so as to be received upon the shaft 24 .in such manner that said operating member D can swing or oscillate thereon relatively to said elements A, B and C. Y

In the operation of the mechanism, the operating member D oscillates alternately between the full line and broken line positions shown, for example, in Figs. 4, 8 and 10. The downwardA movement of said member between these positions has no effect upon the mechanism, but the upward movement thereof is utilized to actuate the mechanism.

For actuating the day element B, to cause the days of the week-'to be successively displayed through the aperture 29, the operating member is provided with' a movable detent 36 which is pivotally mounted at 37 upon the inner end of a bracket 38 fixed to the cross bar 32 of the operating member, and the free end of which is yieldlngly held by means of a spring 38Il in operative relation to the teeth 39 of a ratchet wheel 40 rotatably mounted upon the shaft 24. The

ratchet 40 is secured to the sleeve 17 of said element B so that the latter willl be rotated when said ratchet wheel 40 is turned. In said upward movement of the member D, the detent 36 is causedto enga e a tooth' of the ratchet wheel 40 and move t e same one tooth space,'and advance the drum 15 of the element B one da In the arrangement illustrated, the ratc et wheel 4() is provided with twenty-ei ht teeth, and since the element B has the ays ofthe week repeated thereon four times, it will be seen'that said movement of said ratchet wheel will successively cause the days of the week to appear one after another at theopening 29 in the frame of vthe device. Obviously, therefore, the teeth of the ratchet may be arranged in any other multiple of 7 as long as the designations upon the element B are correspondingly ar-V ranged. 4

At certain times, as will be later explained, the operating member D is moved downwardly to a considerable distance beyond that shown in full lines in said Fi s. 4, 8 and 10, and in order to prevent more t an the intended one tooth space movement of the ratchet wheel 40 and the element B connected thereto, there is fixed to the shaft 24 a disk 44, the diameter of which is slightly greater than that of the 4ratchet wheel 40. Thisdisk 44 has a peripheral portion thereof cut away4 to form a recess 45, adjacent the detent 36 .so as to expose only two teeth 39 of the'ratchet wheel 40, as shown in Figs. 6 and 9. In the normal one day movement of the. operating member D, the free end of the detent 36 extends into said recess 45 in a position to engage andmove the ratchet wheel one tooth space, but when an abnormal downward stroke of the operatin member D takes place, then said spring etent 36 will engage the edge of said disk 44 and ride downwardly upon. the periphery thereof and be held out of engagement with the teeth of said ratchet wheel 40 during the last part of said down stroke, and also durin the rst part of the. return or upstroke.l e detentwill then .return 'into engagement with ratchet wheel 40 to properly actuate the same to turn it one tooth space only. To prevent overrunning of the ratchet Wheel 40 and to maintain it at all times in proper relation to the' dog 36 there is provided a suitable s ring member 47, one end of which is secure for example, to the bottom cross bar 26 of the frame, its other end yieldingly bearing against the teeth of the ratchet wheel 40, as shown in Fig. 8. y

The dateI element C is operatively associated with a ratchet wheel 50 having thirtyone peripheral teeth 51 and which is preferabl fixed to the sleeve 22 of said element C fbr rotating the latter. This ratchet 50 is also actuated by a s ring detent 52 constructed and mounte upon the operating member D in a similar manner to the spring detent 36,-before described.

In the normal movement of the operating member D between the two positions shown in Fig. 4, the ratchet wheel 50 and its associated element C are moved one tooth space simul-.. vtaneousl with thecorrespo'nding movement.-

of the afy element B, so that the 'pro er numeral or a particular day will be displayed through the opening 30 in the frame at the same time as the corresponding name of the day at the opening 29. During months of thirty-one days 4the operating member D is actuated throug a distance such that the ratchets 40 and 50 will be actuated one tooth space through the entire month, but during months in which less than thirtyone days occur, the operating member is permitted to move downwardly a greater distance at the end of the month so that the .detent 52 will engage the teeth 51 ofthe ratchet 50 at a lower point and upon completing its upward or return stroke, will advance the date element C a number of spaces insteadof one, and consequently, a number of days, according to the number of days less than thirty-one that the particular month contains, for example, thirty or twenty-eight. Suitable means for this purpose is interposed between the ratchet 50 and the mechanlsm for controlling the advance of the month clement A so as to to beadvanced upon the rst day of each month, regardless of the number of days in the previous month. Said means are constructed as follows:

A ratchet wheel rotating about the shaft 24 is' secured to the sleeve 12 of the element 'A and is provided with twelve teeth 56. A

springpressed pawl 57, secured to a short shaft 53 arranged parallel to the shaft 24 and journalled in a 'bearing.54hasits upper, free end yieldingly engaging a tooth of said ratchet 55 so as to releasably hold said ratchet and its element A in a position in which its peripheral months designations are successively movable into properregister with the opening 28. f

Arranged alongside the holding ratchet 55 is a spur gear 58, which is fixed to and rotates a substantially circular disk or plate 59, these members being arranged on a-sleeve or hub by which they are rotatably mounted upon the shaft 24. The spur gear is provided with sixty teeth, or five for each month of one year, the purpose of which will be explained.

Extending upwardly from the bottom 62, to the upper end of ,which is pivoted at ermit the latter 63 one end of a link or leverA 64. The other ing member D, the lower end of said projection will come into contact with the periphery or edge 70 of said disk 59, thus limiting the downward movement Aof the operating member to the position shown in Figs. 4, 8 and 10, and effecting 'normal one day operation, the up stroke of said operating member being limited in turn, by the engagement of the stud 66 with the inner endof the slot' 65, as shown in dotted lilies in Fig. l0. This limited movement is such that the detent 52 will shift the date ratchet 50 one tooth space and advance the date drum C one number.

Five times each year, however, that is,'at the end of those months having less than thirty-one days, it is necessary to operate the ratchet 50 more than one tooth space v1n one.

months of- June, September, and November For this purpose, the periphery of the disk 59 is formed with four notches 72, one each lso for the months of April, September, June, and November, and a larger and deeper notch 73 for the month of February. 'These several notches arrive adjacent the projection 68 at the termination ot one or another of said months. The notches 72 have all the same depth which is such thatpthe projection 68, before mentioned, instead of engaging the periphery 70v of the disk 59, will enter one ot these notches, thus permitting the lever 64 to 'swing` downwardly about the pivot 63 a lgreater distance until said stop 68 engages the bottom of one of said notches 72, and

- downward movement, as shown in Fig. 11.

This extra downward movement is suoli that upon the termination of vthe thirtieth day of the months of April, June, September and November, the ratchet wheel 50 and its associated element C will be advanced two tooth spaces so that the next day will indicate May 1st, July 1st, October 1st, or December 1st, as the case may be, instead of register- I will simultaneously clear all of the numerals 29. 30 and 3l and will come to rest with the first day of the next month in register wlth the opening 3() in the frame.

The notches 72 and 7 3 of the disk 59 and e the peripheral spaces between them are so spaced relatively to one another that the disk will control the movement of the opera member D'for one year. Therefore, the 59 will be required to rotate once each year.

disk, the following means are employed. Extending radially from the shaft 24 adjacent to vand fixed upon the ratchet wheel 50 so as to turni therewith is a toothed segment 80- having five teeth 81 which once during each revolution of said ratchet 50 is adapted to mesh with and rotate a long horizontal pinnotched' disk 59 is attached, so that said' wheel 58 is intermittently-'rotated a part of a In order to permit such rotation of saidv revolution by and-through the ratchet Wheel ter 80, and, while having the same pitch as those of the ratchet 50, they have double the spa ce between them relative to the spaces between the teeth of said ear 58. By this arrangement the ive teet of the segmentrSO will cause a corresponding five tooth operation of the gear wheel 58, although each tooth space of said .ratchet wheel 50 isapproximately twice that of the tooth spaces of the wheel 58. The sector 80, consequently, al-

ways rotates the gear wheel 58 and the disk 59 during the same terminal period of'each month as, for example, during the period between the twenty-seventh of one month and the first of the next month, regardless of the number of days in the month. Thus, an intermittent motion is imparted to the gear 58 and disk 59 twelve times a year and this motion is 'made' use of vin also advancing the month element A twelve times a year so as to consecutively move the names ofthe diferent months on the periphery thereof to proper position in front of the opening 28. A11 operative connection is, therefore, provided vbetween the connected gear 58 and disk 59, and the ratchet wheel -55 controlling the movement of the element A, but since the rotation of the gear wheel 58 and the disk l 59 is started on the twenty-seventh day of each month, it is necessary to prevent the rotation of the element A until the termination of thelast day of the month present.

For example. for the month of February in the three ordinarv years the element A will vSeptember and November, three days, and

thr` remaining months of the year, four days. For this purpose, the connectlon between the gear 58 and disk 59 and the ratchet 5 5 is-a yielding one, comprising a stud 84 fixed to'and extending fromthe r 58 and projecting into a slot 85 forme in said ratchet 55 vconcentrically with the axis of the shaft 24. The ratchet wheel 55 is provided with a fixed stud 87 disposed in the rear of the pin 84 with reference to the direction of rotation of the gear wheel 58, and connecting said studs 84 and 87 is a tension spring 88.

When the gear wheel 58 starts to rotate under the action of the pinion 82, the first mentioned stud 84 on the gear wheel- 58 will start moving along the slot 85 and relatively to the ratchet 55, from the position shown in Fig. 7 to that shown in Fig. 12, since the ratchet wheel 55 is prevented from corresponding movement by the engagement of the upper end of the awl 57 w1th a tooth of the ratchet wheel. y this action, the spring 88 is placed under tension such as to exert a pull upon the ratchet wheel 55 so that should the pawl 57 be disengaged fromv the ratchet wheel, the latter would be permitted to advance and rotate about the shaft 24 until the rear end of the slot 85 therein came into contact with the advanced pin 84. To enable the pawl 57 to be released at the proper time to effect the aforementioned movement and consequent advance of the month element, the shaft 3 of the awl 57 is provided with an upwardly exten ing arm 91 terminating in a cam portion 92 disposed in the path of a projecting pin or stud 93 fixed to the ratchet wheel of the date element C. This in or projection 93 is so positioned that it w1ll engage the cam 92 and move the arm 91 outwardly to the position shown in Fi 12, and disengage the pawl 57 from the ratc et wheel at the proper timeto permit the latter to advance under the iniiuence of the tension of the extended spring 88, thus also advancing the month element A to display the next month. The spring of the pawl 57 will return the pawl 57 and varm 91 to their former positions as soon as the pin 93 has passed out of engagement with the cam 92, thereby permitting said pawl to retain said element A in its new position during the month next current.

The aforementioned construction will permit the proper actuation of the 'month element at the .beginnin of the first day of each month regardless of t e number of days in the previous month. 'When months of less than thirty-one days occur, the notches 72 and 73 Y in the disk 5,9 permit a required extra down'- ward stroke of the operating member Din accordance with-the number of days in a short month, as` explained so that upon a single stroke lof the latter, the ratchet wheel 50 will be advanced at a single -strokethe ap ro-' priate number ofY tooth spaces require to bring the pin 93 into engagement with the cam 92 at the proper time for releasing and permitting the `advance of the month element Februar notch 73, and upon this s aft there is rotata ly mounted a leap year element 101 comprising a small disk extending arallel with said disk 59 and the periphery o which is cut away to provide four notches 102 spaced ninety degrees apart.

Pivoted at 104 uponsaid disk 59 is a. catch or holding device 105 which is yieldingly held by a spring 106;y against a suitable stop such as the shaft 24 in such position that its outer free end 107 will enter in one of the notches 102, for yieldingly retainingthe leap year element 101 in correct operative position to the other parts of the calendar mechanism.

Each of the notches 102 is formed with an abru t shoulder 110, and these shoulders are so dlsposed that upon termination of the month of February of each (year, one of saidshoulders 110 will be move by the rotation of the disk 59 into engagement with a iixed projection 111 extending, for exam le, from the stationary upright 62. The continued rotation of the disk 59 will then cause the lea year element 101 to be turned about its sha through ninety degrees from the time that it first engages and finally clears the projection 111. The leap year element 101 is also provided with a lateral stop or abutment 112 disposed adjacent one of the shoulders 110, and the cycle of rotation of said element is such that this abutment 112 will occupy the position shown in Figs. 14 and 16 at the termination of the 28th day of February in leap year, in which position it extends directly o posite that portion of the February notch 3, which lies immediately within the advance or leading edge thereof. In. this positionl it will be located immediately beneath a lateral tooth 113 on the .lever 64. This tooth 113 is approximately opposite the othertooth 68 of said lever 64, so that said tooth 68 is prevented from entering and moving downwardly in said notch 73, upon actuation of the memberD as would .otherwise be the case, sincethe tooth 113 will be intercepted by said abutment 112, for one extra day and permitting the date element to register the date of February 29th. At the same time the month element A is prevented from changing to March prematurely. The width of the abutment 112 i 'is such that on the next 'actuation of the operating member D, the tooth 113 will clear said abutment 112 and permit the`other tooth 68 of the lever 64 to move into the notch'v 73 see Figs. 19 and 21.

I-Iowever, if the operating member D and the lever 64 are now permitted. a movement such that the tooth 68 of said lever passes clear to the bottom of the notch 73, then the detent 52 will, upon the return stroke of the operating member, advance the ratchet wheel 50 four tooth spaces, as in other years, w1th a consequent turning up of the numeral 2 on the date element C instead of registering the numeral 1 for March 1st as it should. Means are therefore provided for permitting the detent 52 to advance the ratchet 50 for three tooth spaces after the 29th day of February so that the numeral 1 will be turned up simultaneously with tbe turning of the month element to March. The means shown for this purpose comprises a part 116,

' see Figs. 19 and 21, which, at the proper time extends into the path of movement vof the tooth 113 and is so disposed as to arrest the downward movement thereof, and consequently also the downward movement of the tooth 68 before the latter reaches the bottom of the February notch 73. This position is such that the operating member, when moved up again, will effect the advance of the ratchet 50 three tooth spaces, causing the date element C to register the numeral 1 coincident with the turning of the month element A to March;

The part 116 is shown as a lateral or oiset extension of the abutment 112, but it may be otherwise associated with the leap year element 101 so as to move into operative position at the proper time.

In order to permit 'the mechanism to be adjusted at any time, independently of the actuation of the operating member D, for setting the mechanism for any given date, the cam member 91 may be provided with a finger piece 115 which permits the pawl 57 and the cam member 91 to be swung outwardly about their pivot 53 so as to release the ratchet wheel 55 from said pawl 57. The month element A can then be independently advanced or rotated to any required position. The day element B and date element() can be rotated at any time by simply turning them in the proper direction.

What is claimed is,

1. In a calendar mechanism, a rotatable date element, a rotatable month element which is advanced at the terminati on of each month by the movement of said date element, an oscillatory operating member for rotating -said date element, means for controlling the stroke of said member to normally effect daily step by step movements of said datel element` .means for permitting a greater stroke of said connection between said date element andsaid month element which permits said date element to move through said abnormal distance without rotation of the month element until the termination of said greater stroke of said operating member, whereby said month element is prevented from premature advance and re istration of the next month. v2. In a calen ar mechanism a date element having dailyl rotatable step by step move ments to indicate the date of the month, a rotatable month element, actuating means between said month and date elements for actuating said month element through movement of said date element, a spring connection between said month element and said actuating means, means.. for restraining the action of .said actuating means and for placing said spring connection under stress, and means for removing the restraint on said actuating means and permitting said spring connection to act to elect the advance of said month element by the force stored in said spring connection.

3. In a calendar mechanism, a rotatable.

oscillatory operatingl member for rotating said date element to effect daily step by step movements thereof, means for actuating said month element including relatively movable rotating parts between said date and month elements, means operable by the movement of said date element at a predeterminedy time near the end of each month for operating said month element actuating means, and means for varying the time at which sa; d actuating means causes said month element to be moved in accordance with the number of days in different months.

4. In a calendar mechanism, a rotatable date element, a rotatable month element, an \operating member for rotating said date element to effect daily step by step movements thereof, means for actuating said month element, means operable by the movement. of said date element at a predetermined time near the end of each month for operating sa'd month element actuating means, a spring con'- nection between said actuating means and said month element, retarding means for temporarily restraining the advance of said month element by said actuating means and which places said spring connection under stress, and means for releasing said month element on the last day of each month to permit the same-to be advanced by the force stored in said spring connection.

5. In a calendar mechanism, a rotatable date element and an independently rotatable month element, an oscillatory operating member for turning said date element at each 4Stroke of said member, driving means for turning said month element, means operable upon a certain day of each month by the movement of said date element for startin'g said drive means, and means operable by said date element on the last day ofthe month movement thereof for permittin said drive means to act upon and turn sai month element.

6. In a calendar mechanism, a rotatable date element and an independently rotatable month element, an oscillatory operating member for turning said date element at each stroke of said member, driving means for said month element including a rotatable turning member, a holding member rotatable relative thereto and connected to said month element, means operable upon a certain day each month by the movement of said date element for starting-the rotation of said turning member relativel to said holding member, and means opera le by said date element on the last day of the month movement thereof for causing said holding member to advance in accordance with the advance of said turninfr member to turn said month element.

In a calendar mechanism, a rotatable date element and an independently rotatable month element, an oscillatory operating member for turning said date element at each stroke of said member, driving means for said month element including a rotatable turning member, a holding'member rotatable relatively thereto and connected to said month element, a tension connection between said members, means operable upon a certain day of each month by the movement of said date element for starting the rotation of said turning member relatively to said holding member and for placing said tension connection under stress, means for restraining the advance of said holding member, and means o erable by said date element on the last day o the month movement thereof for releasing said holding member from said restraining means and permitting said month element to be advanced.

8. In a calendar mechanism, a rotatable date element movable day by day under the influence of an operating member, a rotatable month element, driving means therefor including an independently rotatable gear, and operative connection between. the same and said month element for turning the latter, Va pinion meshing with said gear,

and a gear segment associated with and movable by said date element and which engages and turns said pinion to rotate said gear on a certain day each month to cause said month element to be advanced.

9. In a calendar mechanism a rotatable date element having a daily step by step movement under the influence of like movements of an operating member, a rotatable month clement, a rotatable gear for turn-VA ingsaid month element, a disk on said gear having spaced notches therein, a part movable with said operating member which is engageablewith said disk to effect said one day movements of said operating member and which enters one of said notches at a certain time near the end of a month having less than thirty-one days for permitting g iierent movement of said o rating memer and a correspondingly different movea gaarA for driving said month element, a dis mountedA to move with said gear and having a part engageable by said operating member at the termination of the twentyeighth day of February for three consecutive years, for causing said date element and said month element to be advanced to indicate the first day of March, a leap year element carried by said gear member, and which has a part movable to a osition to intercept said operating member fldr an extra day in February every fourth year to thereby delay the rotation of said date element and said month element until the termination of the twen ninth day of February, and a part on said leap year element which, at the termination of said last mentioned date, is positioned between said operating member and said disk part to modify the movement of said member so that said datel element will register the numeral one coincident with the-turning of said month element to March in said fourth year.

11. In a calendar mechanism, a shaft, a date element and a month element rotatably mounted thereon to turn independently, an operating member mounted to oscillate on said shaft for advancing said date element at each stroke of said member, a gear for driving said month element, a member -mounted to move with said gear and having each year simultaneously with said last mentioned advance of said date and said month elements, an abutment yaociated with the which lnoved by said fixed part every fourth year to a position in which it inter cepts said projection on'said operating mem# ber to thereby delay the advance of said date element and said month elementfor an extra day to indicate the twenty-ninth day of February in that year, and an oii'set on said Vabutment vfor then `limiting the action of said operating member onA said date element sothat the latter will register the numeral, one, when saidmnth element turns to March. Y

12. In a calendar mechanism a rotatable month element, a date element mechanism for adyancing the latter a definite distance each day, means for modifying the laction of said advancing mechanism to advance said month element and said date element to register the .first 'day of March at the termination of the twenty-eighth day of February for three consecutive years by a four day movement of said date element, a leap year element movably 'mounted to turn through a part of a revolution each year and having an abutment which, during every fourth year is turned to a position in which it defers the modified action ofsaid advancin means one day so as topermit the same to e ect the registration of February the twenty-ninth by4 another one day advance of said date element, and said leap year element having a part which then modifiesv the action of said advancing means so that it will effect a three daymov'ement of said date element and .con-

sequent registration thereby of the numeral,

one, simultaneously with the advance of said month element to March.

13. In a calendar mechanism, a rotatable month element, a rotatable date element havingl -a ratchet, means for advancing said date element day by day by one toot-h movements of said ratchet means including a driving gear for advancing said date element for four tooth spaces and for advancing said date and month elements to register the first day of March at the termination of the twenty-eighth day of February for three lconsecutive years, a' leap year element rotatably mounted on and carried by said driving gear which is automatically moved each year and has an abutment which every fourth.

year is moved to a position'to be engaged by -a'nd defer. the actionlof' said advancing means for an additional day in February to enable the twentyninth of that month to be registered, .and another part on said leap year element, which is engageable by, and modifies the action lof said advancing means, to effect; only a three tooth movement ofsaid date ratchet so that -said date element will register the numeral, one, coincidently With the advance of said month element to March; 14. In a calendar mechanism, a rotatable registration of the twenty-ninth day of February, and a second part on said leap year element which enables the next and modified stroke of said operating member to be completed only to the extent of turning said date element to register the first day of the month simultaneouslyvvith the turning of the month element to March; MAURICE N. RICHTER. l

FRANK LOWITZ.

date element and a rotatable month element,

an oscillatory operating member for effectiso 

